Curt's graduation- MBA degree

Wow! I can't say enough for my husband and his determination to finish his degree. There have been so many obstacles in graduating, but he has done it. You could say we were feeling the moment! It was a great day for the Smith family.

Yeah, new bikes for spring!

Kemp has-at long last- learned to ride a two wheeler, so he got a new bike. Cami was very sad and feeling left out. She has been riding for a few years now and growing out of her bike, so we gave in and bought one for her too! Curtis is getting a really nice road bike for his graduation present and I am getting one for Mother's Day. I guess you could say we are planning to save money with these insane gas prices, ha!

What is all that white stuff?

For all of you who don't experience much of a winter, here is what it's like in Utah. This is one of our last times shoveling, and let me tell you it was a work out! The kids absolutely loved it. Our neighbor is in the pic with the kids.

Kemp's Birthday

Kemp and his friend Ethan went to the Flowrider for his birthday. It is a wave simulator in Ogden, and it is way cool. Curt and I went for my 30th birthday, but we didn't get any pictures(they all would have been of me biffing it anyway!). They boys boogie boarded, you can also stand up and ride a board, pretty amazing!

Sweetwater River

This was one of the more emotional moments of our tour. When the pioneers came to this river it was nearly frozen (see the ice chunks in our picture). They were so exhausted from pulling their carts, that they sat at the edge of the water and started to sob. There was a rescue company that came with wagons and supplies and three young men ( like around age 18) from that company stepped forward and carried nearly every person across the river. This monument is made in their honor and this one shows one of the boys carrying a toddler and a little baby tucked in his coat across the river. It was such a humbling experience to be by that freezing river and to think of crossing it back and forth several times, talk about courage!

Independence Rock, Wyoming

Just a few miles down from Martin's Cove there is this site called Independence Rock. We hiked all the way up around the rock, it has names carved and dates of when people traveled through this area. Some from the Oregon Trail and others were Pioneers. Curt and the kids are standing in front of some of the earliest names carved in the rock, dating back to 1841.

Martin's Cove, Wyoming

We were able to take a work trip with Curt after Thanksgiving to Wyoming. We stayed in a hotel for the weekend and the kids got to swim and veg out in the hotel. There is a historical pioneer site in Wyoming called Martin's Cove. Handcart pioneers got caught in a terrible storm passing through this same area and several died. We were there at the same time of year as they were and it was FREEZING! We were all bundled up and had blankets while riding on an all terrain vehicle with a tour guide. We heard some neat stories, some very funny and others made us cry. I will never be able to comprehend the strength of those pioneers, women losing husbands and new babies; we are so BLESSED!!! The names listed in the background of the picture are all the pioneers in the company, the names highlighted in yellow are the ones that died.